Civil Defence ‘confident’ in alert system
The Ministry for Civil Defence and Emergency Management is ‘‘confident’’ no false alerts will be sent by its new emergency mobile alert system.
On Sunday a wave of panic was sparked in Hawaii after the wrong button was pushed on the US emergency text alert system, issuing a false alarm stating: ‘‘BALLISTIC MISSILE THREAT INBOUND TO HAWAII. SEEK IMMEDIATE SHELTER. THIS IS NOT A DRILL.’’
A corrected alert was sent out 38 minutes later saying ‘‘There is no missile threat or danger to the State of Hawaii’’.
Hawaii had been on high alert after claims by North Korea that its newest intercontinental ballistic missile could fly 13,000 kilometres, giving it the ability to potentially hit the island state.
Ministry for Civil Defence and Emergency Management acting director David Coetzee said New Zealand’s emergency mobile alert system was designed with extensive safeguards and supported by rigorous training to prevent such situations.
The emergency mobile alert system, introduced in November 2017, will warn citizens of serious threats such as a tsunami affecting land areas, wildfire affecting people, armed offenders at large, or seriously contaminated drinking water. Alerts are broadcast via cell towers.
The platform required messages to be approved by a national controller and confirmed twice before being issued, he said.
‘‘I have been assured that the Ministry has good systems and controls in place.’’ Kris Faafoi
Only certain emergency agencies are authorised to send the alerts, including police, fire, and other government departments.
In the unlikely event of a false alert being dispatched, Civil Defence could swiftly issue additional messages and correct the mistake, he said.
‘‘All systems come with an element of risk, but we’re confident we have appropriate safeguards in place to minimise the risk of messages being issued in error.’’
It was vital the public had full confidence in any alert system, he said.
Minister of Civil Defence and Emergency Management Kris Faafoi said he had no cause for concern about a false alarm at this time.
‘‘I have been assured that the Ministry has good systems and controls in place,’’ Faafoi said.